bar: Meaning and Definition of

bar

Pronunciation: (bär), [key]
— n., v., prep. barred, bar•ring,
—n.
  1. a relatively long, evenly shaped piece of some solid substance, as metal or wood, used as a guard or obstruction or for some mechanical purpose: the bars of a cage.
  2. an oblong piece of any solid material: a bar of soap; a candy bar.
  3. the amount of material in a bar.
  4. an ingot, lump, or wedge of gold or silver.
  5. a long ridge of sand, gravel, or other material near or slightly above the surface of the water at or near the mouth of a river or harbor entrance, often constituting an obstruction to navigation.
  6. anything that obstructs, hinders, or impedes; obstacle; barrier: a bar to important legislation.
  7. a counter or place where beverages, esp. liquors, or light meals are served to customers: a snack bar; a milk bar.
  8. a barroom or tavern.
  9. (in a home) a counter, small wagon, or similar piece of furniture for serving food or beverages: a breakfast bar.
  10. the legal profession.
  11. the practicing members of the legal profession in a given community.
  12. any tribunal: the bar of public opinion.
  13. a band or strip: a bar of light.
  14. a railing in a courtroom separating the general public from the part of the room occupied by the judges, jury, attorneys, etc.
  15. a crowbar.
    1. Also calledbar line.the line marking the division between two measures of music.
    2. Seedouble bar.
    3. the unit of music contained between two bar lines; measure.
  16. barre.
    1. an objection that nullifies an action or claim.
    2. a stoppage or defeat of an alleged right of action.
  17. a horizontal stroke of a type character, as of an A, H, t, and sometimes e.
  18. (in tracery) a relatively long and slender upright of stone treated as a colonette or molded.
  19. I-bar.
    1. an iron or steel shape:I-bar.
    2. a muntin.
  20. one of a pair of metal or cloth insignia worn by certain commissioned officers.
  21. the transverse ridges on the roof of the mouth of a horse.
  22. a space between the molar and canine teeth of a horse into which the bit is fitted.
  23. (in a bridle) the mouthpiece connecting the cheeks.
  24. bride (def. 1).
  25. a horizontal band, narrower than a fess, that crosses the field of an escutcheon.
  26. a gateway capable of being barred.
  27. a case at bar.
    1. before the court and being tried:a case at bar.
    2. before all the judges of a court:a trial at bar.
  28. behind bars, in jail: We wanted the criminal behind bars.
—v.t.
  1. to equip or fasten with a bar or bars: Bar the door before retiring for the night.
  2. to block by or as if by bars: The police barred the exits in an attempt to prevent the thief 's escape.
  3. to prevent or hinder: They barred her entrance to the club.
  4. to exclude or except: He was barred from membership because of his reputation.
  5. to mark with bars, stripes, or bands.
—prep.
  1. except; omitting; but: bar none.

bar

Pronunciation: (bär), [key]
— n.
  1. See

bar

Pronunciation: (bär), [key]
— n. Physics.
  1. a centimeter-gram-second unit of pressure, equal to one million dynes per square centimeter.
  2. (formerly) microbar. Abbr.: b

BAR

Pronunciation: [key]
  1. See

Bar.

Pronunciation: [key]
— Bible. Bible.
  1. Baruch.

bar.

Pronunciation: [key]
  1. barometer.
  2. barometric.
  3. barrel.
  4. barrister.

B.Ar.

Pronunciation: [key]
  1. Bachelor of Architecture.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
See also:
  • bar (Thesaurus)